Watch-case bezel



(NoMbdeL) r V Y W. LANG,

. WATCH CASE BEZELV. No. 365,825. Patented July 5,1887} N PETERS, PnumL'Mo nbh-r, wumn to l -c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM LANG, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

WATCH-CASE BEZEL.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LANG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin VVatch-Oase Bezels, of which the following is a description sufficient to enable others skilled in the artto which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My improvements relate to the means pro vided for the reception and support of the watch-crystal or glass front, and also to the means employed for securing the parts to gether. 3

Heretofore watch-case bezels have been made from blanks of comparatively thick sheet metal bent up into the desired shape by dies or other similar means, and having the seats or grooves for the reception of the edges of the glass disks formed in their inner edges by first turning acute-angled grooves in the said edges and then pressing inward or deflecting the bottoms or inner sides of the grooves thus formed, in order to impart a finished mat-like appearance and increase the apparent thickness of the glass disk or crystal when the latter is in place.

Aside from the undue and otherwise unnecessary thickness of metal required for the bezel in order to admit of the formation of the seat for the glass in the manner described, the metal composing the bottom or inner side of the groove is frequently ruptured duringthe operation of bending it inward, the splitting or division of the edge of the bezel apparently impairing the tenacity and coherence of the metal at that point and rendering it weak or brittle and difficult to work, as has been fully demonstrated in practice. Owing, also, to the angular-pointed shape of the cutting-tool required to be used in forming the-groove, its point rapidly dulls, and consequently the sharpness and perfection of the apex or angle of the groove is impaired, rendering the fit of the glass or crystal less snug and tight than is desirable.

The extent of the matting or interior bevel of the edge of the bezel for ornamental purposes is also prescribed by such construction within a very small degree, since it is only practicable to turn a comparatively shallow groove in the inner edge of the bezel. I obviate all these difficulties by constructing my bezel of two parts-an outer shell shaped from comparatively thin sheet metal, the inner or front edge of which is simply cut or otherwise beveled inwardly, and an 'inner mat piece, shaped, preferably, from still thinner sheet metal, which fits within the shell and has its front edge formed into an inwardlyprojecting flange, which constitutes the visible portion of the mat and also supports the back of the edge of the crystal or glass, confining thesaid' edge between it and the beveled edge of the outer portion or shell of the bezel in front. By this means I not only avoid all danger-of spoiling the front edge of the bezel during manufacture, and at the same time obtain a more perfect and desirable seat for the edges of the glass, which seat has invariably the same degree of accuracy in all the bezels made, but I am also enabled to use any width of visible mat-bevel that may be desirable.

An essential feature of my invention consists in-the special formation of the snap or rear flange, which engages with the watch-center in such manner that it is utilized as a means for retaining the mat in position.

By utilizing theouter rim or snap as a. means for securing the mat in position I obviate the necessity for soldering or otherwise uniting the parts and render the process of manufacture simple and rapid, while the product is a bezel that is superior in strength, perfection, and beauty to those heretofore known.

Of course where circumstances render it desirable, the mat may be secured to the shell by other means without affecting its utility; but

the method of combining and arranging the 1 parts herein shown is. effective and' is preferable, especially for the cases of the cheaper grades of watches.

, In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the utilization of my improvements in a simple form of watchcase bezel, although I do not wish to confine myself strictly to the identical form and construction shown, since it is obvious that either might be modified to meet the requirements of different styles or classes of watches without deviating materially from the spirit and intent of my invention.

Figure 1 is a-frout view of a watclrcase provided with my improved form of bezel without the crystal; Fig. 2, a diamctrical section of the same upon plane of line U 00, Fig. 1; Fig.

5 3, a front view of the bezel removed; Fig. 4, a rear view of the bezel removed; Fig. 5, a diametrieal section of the bezel-shell before the insertion of the mat; Fig. 6, a similar view of the mat; Fig. 7, a similar View of the shell and mat placed together preparatory to the formation of the snap; Fig. 8, a similar view of the parts after the formation of the snap; Fig. 9, an enlarged sectional view of one side of the bezel, to illustrate more effectively the 1 reduction in thickness of the snap and the relation of the front edge of the bezel to the edge of the crystal; Fig. 10, a sectional view of the front edge of the old form of bezel, illustrating the cause of defective fit arising from blunt- 2C, ness of point of turning-tool.

In an application for patent bearing even date herewith I have set forth a process of manufacturing my improved form of bezel more fully than it will be necessary to do 2 herein, as I do not confine myself in the present case to any special method of construction, but seek to cover the improved form of bezel itself.

The bezel. consists of the outer shell, A,

3 shaped by suitable means into substantially the form shown, and of the inner ring or mat, B, which is preferably made to conform to and lit in the interior of the shell A, the two parts being secured together by any appropriate means, the means shown consisting in bend ing over the outer or rear edge, a, of the shell, as shown in 8, in such manner as to confine and support the rear edge, I), of the mat, which is thus held firmly between the said 40 flange a and the curved front of the shell A.

Since the essential feature ofthe mat B is its inner front flange, I), it is not absolutely neees sarythat it shall extend all the way back to the flange a, as if made of less width than that 5 shown it might be soldered or otherwise fastened in position within the shell A; but since I turn the outer edge, a, over in most cases to form the snap for engagement with the center piece, 0, of the watch-case, (as illustrated in 0 Fig. 2,) the utilization of the flange or snap a for the purpose of securing themat is of great practical advantage, on account of simplicity and chcapness of construction, combined with a desirable degree of strength and rigidity of the bezel as a whole.

Thellange or snap (1,0ll1l161b0f0l'0 or after it is bent inward into a position substantially at right angles to the axes of the bezel, is reduced in thickness bysuitablc means, for the purpose of rendering it more elastic, in order that it may adapt itself more readily to the receivingsurface upon the center piece, 0, of the watchcase. its inner edge is turned down until the opeuinga is of standard diameter.

55 Preparatory to the insertion of the mat the frontedge, a, of the shell A is also preferably turned or otherwise beveled inwardly at an angle approximating that of the bevel of the glass or crystal 1) to be used, thus forming,. with the adjoining upper surface of the mat, an acute-angled annular groove, (1, for the reception of the rear edge of the glass or crystal D, which latter is sprung"into position, the elasticity of the bezel being sufficient to admit of this mode of securing the glass.

It is to be observed that the annular groove (1 will necessarily by my construction always be uniformly sharp and well defined, since the inward bevel of the front edge, a, of the shell A extends the entire thickness of the metal, while the adjoining front portion of the mat will always maintain the same relation thereto, and will also tend by its inherent elasticity to hold the beveled edge ofthe glass firmlyagai nst the said beveled edge a of the shell.

The advantage of this sharpness and uniformity of outline in the groove (Z will be more full y appreciated upon reference to Fig. 10, in which the evil effects of the wear upon the point of the turning-tool are illustrated upon an enlarged scale, E representing a section of the edge of the old form of bezel. The lastmentioned figure also illustrates the turning over of the thin rear edge, 0, of metal, constituting the inner side of the groove in the old bezel, in order to form the internal bevel or mat which is designed to give an appearance of greater thickness and ornamentation to the crystal, by which it will be readily understood that there is not only danger in effecting the deflection of the thin edge of metal, but, also, that the width of the visible mat thus formed is necessarily very limited.

The flange or bevel 1/ upon the front edge of my mat proper, B, may be formed of any desired. shape or width, and may be readily and safely manipulated, since the full thiekness of the metal, uninjured by cutting or splitting, is available at all points. The mat is preferably reduced throughout to the desired form preparatory to its insertion in the shell A by means of suitable dies or spinning-tools.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bezel for watch cases, substantially such as described, consisting of an annular lilr ing formed with an inwardlyprojecting flange for the support of the inner side of the watclr crystal, and an outer shell the inner edge of which is formed to retain the rim or edge of 120 the crystal, substantially as described, and the outer edge of which shell is formed with an interior flange, which retains the annular linreg ing in place, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. A bezel for watch-cases, substantially such as described, consisting of an outer shell and an interior mat fitting therein, the said parts being secured together by bending over the rear edge of the shell, substantially in the I"O manner and for the purpose described.

3. A bezel for watch cases, substantially such as described, consisting of an exterior shell the inner edge of which is beveled to retain the rim of the crystal, and of an annular lining fitting Within the said shell and having its inner edge formed into a flange, which projects beyond the inner edge of the said shell to constitute a visible mat-surface, as well as a support for the inner side of the crystal, the

said lining being secured Within the shell by bending inward the outer edge of the shell, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

WVILLI AM LANG.

WVitnesses:

\VM. GARDNER, GEO. WV. MIATT. 

